A world of investment opportunity in the economies of tomorrow

Templeton Emerging Markets Bond Fund and Templeton Global Bond Fund are managed by Franklin Templeton Investments and represented in Malta by MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc.

Bonds issued by a select group of the world’s strongest emerging markets offer an attractive way to benefit from their growing success.

Today we think of Japan as one of the world’s most advanced economies. But its rise to riches is surprisingly recent: in 1960, Japan’s entire economic output was worth just over
$44bn in today’s money, according to World Bank figures, while the US economy was hugely larger at $543bn1.

Fast-forward less than two generations, to 1993: Japan’s output had soared to more than $4.4 trillion – 100 times its size in 1960 – while the US economy was a little less than
13 times bigger, at $6.9 trillion1.

There are few more striking examples of a country moving from emerging to developed status than Japan’s extraordinary rise after the second world war – and it is that potential
for countries to accelerate their growth and transform their fortunes that makes today’s emerging markets such a focus of interest for investors.

Japan’s story is striking, for sure, but emerging markets (EMs) are all very different: they move at different speeds, they can go backwards as well as forwards, and “economic
miracles” like Japan’s are exceptional.

Faster growth and less debt

However, looking around the world today it is clear that many EMs – countries at different stages of the journey to developed-world status, such as China, Brazil and Argentina –
are growing considerably faster than regions such as Western Europe, North America or indeed Japan, now firmly in the developed camp. In 1980, EMs accounted for 37% of world economic
output. By 2017 that had soared to 59%.2

As well as enjoying faster economic expansion, the strongest of them have better economic underpinnings, with smaller levels of debt for example, and yet they offer investors
significantly higher interest rates than much of the developed world has had since the financial crisis a decade ago.

This means that investors who put a portion of their money into well-managed emerging economies have an opportunity to earn a higher yield than they can in developed markets.
In addition, they may also benefit from the improving economic outlooks and higher growth rates that emerging markets countries can potentially offer over the long-term.

Focus on EM government bonds

Calvin Ho, Portfolio Manager and Director of Research for Templeton Global Macro argues that one of the best ways to approach the opportunities in emerging markets is to invest
in government bonds issued by a select set of economically strong or improving countries.

“We’re looking for countries with stable institutions, resilient economies and good domestic demand,” he explains. “At the moment we see specific countries that are in the midst
of important economic transformations, notably Brazil and Argentina. The valuations in those countries appear underappreciated by investors – the risk-adjusted yields are quite
compelling.”

“Brazil, for example, has come to the end of a decade of heavy state control of the economy and is turning around. We can see a political will there not to repeat the policy
mistakes of the past.”

The rise of local-currency bond markets

Two of Franklin Templeton’s bond funds – Templeton Emerging Markets Bond Fund and Templeton Global Bond Fund – concentrate on so-called sovereign bonds (those issued by governments).
Twenty years ago, emerging market governments predominantly borrowed in “hard currencies,” mainly the US dollar, because local capital markets were less developed, and access to
international capital was more readily available to EMs through the hard-currency markets.

However, over the past two decades, the picture has changed radically. Today, many emerging markets have reformed and strengthened their economies, while substantially expanding t
heir local-currency financial markets. As a result, international investors are no longer limited to hard-currency bonds. In fact, the local-currency EM debt market is now eight
times the size of the hard-currency market3.

Local markets also tend to be more liquid than the hard-currency markets, because there is more domestic buying support to step in and buy bonds when foreign investors may be
broadly exiting. The ability to issue local-currency government bonds also tends to correlate with a higher credit quality for a country. Countries with stronger financial
conditions tend to be less dependent on the hard-currency markets to raise capital. This is an important advantage for countries trying to avoid taking on external
(hard-currency) debt that would get more expensive to repay if their own currency should fall in value against the US dollar, for example.

Why specialist expertise is critical

International investors must still factor currency risk into their calculations, however. This is where the expertise of a well-resourced fund manager with long experience in
the field becomes indispensable. Managing the risks of currency fluctuations – and positioning the fund to benefit from favourable changes – is a key concern for Franklin
Templeton’s bond fund managers.

Some investors are tempted to buy an index fund to gain exposure to EM bonds, but this approach often sees investments split between countries improving their performance and
others that are going backwards. In EM bonds, it is often better to avoid tracking an index and to instead invest very selectively in a group of countries that are going through
a positive transformation.

Templeton Global Macro’s analysts travel extensively to countries to see for themselves the steps that policymakers are taking to accelerate and strengthen their countries’
development. The team says it is looking for orthodox economic policy and sound management by an independent central bank. “Right now,” says Mr. Ho, “we see a select subset
of countries that are doing the right things from a policy perspective and have positive patterns emerging, but it remains important to be highly selective and active within
the asset class.”

What are the risks of investing in Templeton Emerging Markets Bond Fund?

The value of shares in the Fund and income received from it can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Performance may also be affected
by currency fluctuations. Currency fluctuations may affect the value of overseas investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objective.

  • The Fund invests mainly in debt securities of any quality issued by entities located in developing and emerging markets. Such securities have historically been subject to
    price movements, generally due to interest rates, market factors or movements in the bond market. As a result, the performance of the Fund can fluctuate over time.
  • The Fund may distribute income gross of expenses. Whilst this might allow more income to be distributed, it may also have the effect of reducing capital.
  • Other significant risks include credit risk, derivatives risk, emerging markets risk, liquidity risk.

For full details of all the risks applicable to this Fund, please refer to the “Risk Considerations” section of the Fund in the current prospectus of Franklin Templeton
Investment Funds.

Source:

1.World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files. Data in US dollars.
2. IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2018.
3. Bank for International Settlements, Institute of International Finance.


Franklin Templeton Investments Key risks & Disclaimers:

© Copyright 2019. Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.

This document is intended to be of general interest only and does not constitute legal or tax advice nor is it an offer for shares or invitation to apply for shares of Franklin
Templeton Investment Funds (“FTIF”), a Luxembourg-registered SICAV (“the Fund”). Nothing in this document should be construed as investment advice.

Subscriptions to shares of the Fund can only be made on the basis of the current prospectus, the relevant Key Investor Information Document (“KIID”), accompanied by the latest
available audited annual report and the latest semi-annual report if published thereafter. Please consult your professional adviser and read the KIID and current prospectus
before deciding to invest.
US Persons (as more fully defined in the latest Fund prospectus) are not eligible to invest in the Fund. Shares of the Fund are not available for distribution in all
jurisdictions and prospective investors should confirm availability with their local Franklin Templeton Investments representative before making any plans to invest.

An investment in the Fund entails risks which are described in the Fund’s prospectus and the relevant KIID. The value of shares in the Fund and any income received from them can go down as well as up, and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance is not an indicator, nor a guarantee of future performance. When investing in a fund denominated in a foreign currency, performance may also be affected by currency fluctuations. Where a fund invests in emerging markets, the risks can be greater than in developed markets. Where a fund invests in derivative instruments, this entails specific risks that may increase the risk profile of the fund and are more fully described in the Fund’s prospectus and in the relevant KIID.

There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its objective. For a free copy of the latest prospectus, the relevant KIID, the annual report and semi-annual report, if published thereafter or for more information about any Franklin Templeton Investments’ fund, Maltese investors should contact MeDirect.

Issued by Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (FTIML) Registered office: Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6HL. FTIML is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.


MeDirect Disclaimers:

This information has been accurately reproduced, as received from Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (FTIML). No information has been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. This information is being distributed by MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to its customers. The information contained in this document is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide legal or other professional advice nor does it commit MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc to any obligation whatsoever. The information available in this document is not intended to be a suggestion, recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell, any securities and is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness.

The financial instruments discussed in the document may not be suitable for all investors and investors must make their own informed decisions and seek their own advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in financial instruments or implementing strategies discussed herein.

If you invest in this product you may lose some or all of the money you invest. The value of your investment may go down as well as up. A commission or sales fee may be charged at the time of the initial purchase for an investment and may be deducted from the invested amount therefore lowering the size of your investment. Any income you get from this investment may go down as well as up. This product may be affected by changes in currency exchange rate movements thereby affecting your investment return therefrom. The performance figures quoted refer to the past and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance or a reliable guide to future performance. Any decision to invest should always be based upon the details contained in the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Document (KIID), which may be obtained from MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc.

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